Chrysanthemum plant named Daytona

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Daytona particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; spider capitulum type; light purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 18 to 19.5 cm. when grown as a disbud, and 12 to 14 cm. when grown as a spray cut mum; flowering response in various locations in the United States and Canada under normal temperature ranges from 57 to 68 days after start of short days; flowering response in Bogota under minimum 6.3° C. night and maximum 30.9° C. day is 68 days after start of short days; peduncle length of first lateral in the United States and Canada ranges from 8 to 15 cm., the fourth lateral from 13 to 23 cm. on open, terminal sprays; plant height when grown as a single stem cut mum in Parrish, Fla., with 19 to 25 long days prior to start of short days is 119 to 140 cm.; when grown in Bogota, Colombia with 14 long days prior to start of short days is 124 cm.; and good tolerance to low temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Daytona.

Daytona, identified as SP79-1760-PS, was originated from a cross made byLeonard H. Shoesmith and May Victoria Shoesmith in a controlled breedingprogram in Westfield-Woking, England, in 1978.

Both the female and the male parents of Daytona were unknown seedlingsfrom Shoesmith breeding lines.

Daytona was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Peter S. Hesse in November 1979, in acontrolled environment in West Chicago, Ill.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Daytona was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in January1980 in a controlled environment in West Chicago, Ill., by techniciansworking under the supervision of Peter S. Hesse.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Daytona are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Daytona has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. Forexample, plant height will increase with an increased number of longdays after planting prior to start of short days. Under low nighttemperatures (10 degrees Celsius and lower) flowering can be expected tobe delayed. Under high temperatures (25 degrees Celsius night and 35degrees Celsius day) flowering can be expected to be delayed and also bemore uneven than under normal temperatures. Normal temperatures can bedescribed as 15 degrees Celsius minimum night and 25 degrees Celsiusmaximum day.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown at various locations in the United States and Canada, includingParrish, Fla.; Encinitas, Calif.; Strathroy, Ontario, Canada; and inBogota, Colombia under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial greenhouse practice. The low temperaturetolerance was determined in the April 1990 trial flowering in Bogota,Columbia.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Daytona, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Spider capitulum type.

3. Light purple ray floret color.

4. Daytona can be grown both as a disbud and as a natural spray cut mum.

5. Diameter across face of capitulum when grown as a disbud of 18 to19.5 cm. when fully opened; diameter when grown as a spray mum of 12 to14 cm. when fully opened.

6. Flowering response ranges from 57 to 68 days after start of shortdays when grown in the United States and Canada. Flowering response inBogota, Colombia under minimum 6.3° C. night temperature and maximum30.9° C. day temperature is 68 days after start of short days, whenflowered in April 1990.

7. Peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing theapical bud without growth regulator applications is 8 to 15 cm. whengrown in the United States and Canada, and 10 cm. when grown in Bogota,Colombia. Peduncle length of the fourth lateral at flowering is 13 to 23cm. when grown in the United States and Canada, and 15 cm. when grown inBogota when flowered in April 1990.

8. Plant height when grown as a single stem cut mum when grown inParrish, Fla. with 19 to 25 long days prior to start of short days, is119 to 140 cm.; when grown in Bogota, with 14 long days prior to startof short days, plant height is 124 cm.

9. Good tolerance to night temperatures as low as 5°-10° C. for budinitiation and flower development. Average minimum low nighttemperatures in our Bogota trials ranged from 6.3° C. to 10.0° C.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Daytona, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of two plants of Daytona, the one on theleft being grown as a single stem cut spray mum, and the one on theright being grown as a disbud cut mum.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Daytona.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Daytona at three stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventors, the most similar incomparison to Daytona is the cultivar identified as Pirouette, a palelavender pink flat spider cut spray mum, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 6,157. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certaincharacteristics of Daytona to the same characteristics of Pirouette.

Similar traits are ray floret color, capitulum form and type, and sprayformation. The peduncle length of both cultivars is comparable. Daytonahas a larger diameter of capitulum, and a slightly earlier response by 2to 3 days than Pirouette. Daytona has been tested in Bogota only once,in April 1990, while Pirouette has not been tested in Bogota.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown in Salinas, Calif. on Dec. 11, 1989.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv. Daytona.

Commercial.--Spider cut disbud and spray mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Spider.

Diameter across face.--As disbud, 18 to 19.5 cm.; as spray 12 to 14 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Purple.

Color.--Spoons: Inner ray florets, 78B to 78C; outer ray florets, 78C to78D. Tubes: 75C to 75D.

Shape.--Straight, tubular, with small open spoon at petal tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Closest to 14A.

Color (immature).--Closest to 144A.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; very few disc florets, barelyvisible in the mature flower; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Plant height when grown as a single stem cut mum in Parrishwith 19 to 25 long days prior to start of short days is 119 to 140 cm.;when grown in Bogota with 14 long days prior to start of short days,plant height is 124 cm.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--See photograph.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF DAYTONA AND PIROUETTE                                           CHARACTERISTIC  DAYTONA     PIROUETTE                                         ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                              Light purple                                                                              Same as Daytona                                                   (75C-75D)   75C-75D                                                           tubes with                                                                    darker purple                                                                 spoons                                                        Capitulum form and type                                                                       Flat/spider Flat/spider                                       Spray formation Terminal    Terminal                                          Peduncle length:                                                              1st lateral, U.S. & Canada                                                                    8 to 15 cm. 10 to 15 cm.                                      4th lateral, U.S. & Canada                                                                    13 to 23 cm.                                                                              18 to 23 cm.                                      1st lateral, Bogota (1 test)                                                                  10 cm.      Not tested                                        4th lateral, Bogota (1 test)                                                                  15 cm.      Not tested                                        Diameter across face of                                                       capitulum as disbud:                                                                          18 to 19.5 cm.                                                                            Not available                                     as spray:       12 to 14 cm.                                                                              8 to 12 cm.                                       Plant height:                                                                 19-25 long days, Parrish, Fl.                                                                 130 to 135 mm.                                                                            119 to 140 cm.                                    14 long days, Bogota                                                                          124 cm.     Not tested                                        Flowering response period                                                     United States and Canada                                                                      57 to 68 days                                                                             60 to 70 days                                     Bogota          68 days     Not tested                                        Low night temperature                                                                         Good        Not tested                                        tolerance:                                                                    ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN                                   THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, AND IN BOGOTA,                                  COLOMBIA                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Daytona, asdescribed and illustrated.